Flanked by nearly a dozen state and local elected officials, state Sen. Mack “Bodi” White, R-Central, entered the Baton Rouge mayor’s race today, ending weeks of speculation that he would add his name to the growing list of candidates vying to replace term-limited Mayor Kip Holden.
Speaking to a crowded room of supporters, White laid the foundation for a campaign platform that will focus on education, infrastructure and crime.
“Middle income families continue to leave East Baton Rouge Parish,” White said. “Why? For better schools, less traffic and safer communities.”
White—a real estate agent, former law enforcement officer and grandfather of three—said he is running to address those problems and promised to work closely with other elected officials, though he did not provide specifics.
Curiously, White did not take questions at the podium from members of the media. But in an interview after the announcement he said he would outline his specific plans for improving public schools in the “near future.” He also said he will work with EBR Schools Superintendent Warren Drake to promote the many assets within the school system.
“I want to be able to show the assets he has in East Baton Rouge. I want to show new companies and families if that’s not a choice what the other choices are,” White said. “We have great private schools. We have great charter schools.”
White was instrumental in crafting legislation in 2013 that created an independent school district in southeast Baton Rouge. Though the district was never funded, the effort spawned the unsuccessful campaign to incorporate a separate city of St. George. A portion of White’s Senate district covers part of the proposed St. George area.
White is closely associated with the St. George movement, and among the dozens of supporters on hand for his announcement today were several St. George leaders and activists, including Eddie Rispone and Norman Browning.
White said he worked with the St. George organizers in 2013 and 2014 because they were his constituents and were concerned about education.
“I sat down and listened and we laid out a map to try to get them their schools,” he said. “I represented them, but now I will try to represent the whole parish.”
—Stephanie Riegel
